Improvement in dredging-buckets



UNITED STATES PATENT FFIOE.

JOI- IN B. wOoD, on BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN DREDGlNG-BUCKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,647, dated May 5,18711; application filed,

March 31, 1874.

To allrwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. WOOD, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kingsand State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Dredging-Bucketand that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of `thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to theletters of refererence marked thereon, making a part of thisspecification. i I

This invention is in the nature of an imn provement in dredging-buckets;and the inas is hereinafter fully described and shown.

lIn the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy invention 5 Fig. 2, an end elevation of same, and Fig. 3 view of openbuckct.

Similar letters of reference indioatelikc parts in the several gures.

A and A represent the quadrants of my bucket. These quadrants may beconstructed of any desirable material, and they may be of any desiredsize. Securelybolted on each side of the upper part of each quadrant arestraps or plates a, the ends of these plates projecting above the edgesof the quadrants. Through the inner ends of these plates pass bolts b,the bolts also passing through the lower part of the frame-work B, sothat each of the quadrantsqis secured to said frame-work by hingejoints,which will permit the quadrants to readily open outward, and to cometogether, the bolts b acting as pivotal points. Passing from one side ofthe frame B to the other side, immediately above and nearly in line withthe pivotal bolts b, are two shafts, C, the ends of these shafts restingin suitable bearings formed in the frame-work B, so that the shafts mayfreely turn therein. Firmly secured to the shaftsG, near their ends, andjust insid'e of the frame-work B, are crank-arms D. From the' outer endsof each of these crank-arms extend links d, the upper ends of the linksbe` ing bolted to the crank-arms, and the lower ends to the projectingouter ends of the plates a. To the shafts C, near their centers, aresecured two pulley-wheels, E. To the lower part of the frame B, and oneach side of the same, are secured stop-blocks e. Into the upper part ofthe frame-work B are secured, by straps, in the ordinary manner, theguide-poles f, the frame-work being secured by a brace, g. Secured toeach of the pulley-wheels E are chains 71J and h', in such manner thatwhile the ends of the chains are fastened-one to one wheel, and one tothe otherthey are joined to chains t' and i', which extend to thederrick and hoisting mechanism on the dredge-boat.

Having now described the construction of my bucket, its operation is asfollows: The bucket having been suspended from the end of the derrick orboom, the chain i is wound in and as it is drawn upward it causes thepulleywheels E, by the action of the chain h, to revolve, forcing theshafts C to turn, and as they turn the crank-armsD are raised to avertical position. As they assume that position the quadrants A and Aare brought, by reason of the links d, to the inverted or open position,as shown in Fig. 3. The bucket being in this way opened, it is loweredto the mud, &c., lto be excavated. The chain t is then slackened, andthe chain t" is wound in 5 and as it is wound in it causes thepulley-wheels E to revolve, by the action of the chain h', in a reversedirection, revolving the shafts C in like manner, and forcing thecrank-arms-D from a vertical lto a horizontal position, which-bring thequadrants A and A', by means of the links d, to the closed position, asshown in Fig. l, in which position they are held, retaining the mud,&c., they may have scooped up, as the chain i is wound in. When thebucket has reached the place of deposit, the chain t" is slackened,andthe chain 'il is wound in, causing the quadrants to open,as beforedescribed, and thus discharge their load.

To prevent the possibility of the inner edges of the quadrants frominterlocking or passing each other as they are brought together in theirclosed position, the inner halves of each .of the straps or plates astand out slightly from the sides ofthe quadrants,bo1sters k beingsecured between the sides of the quadrants and the inner halves ofthestraps or plates a, so that as the quadrants come together to form theclosed bucket the projecting halves of said straps or plates @will abutdirectlyT against the stop-blocks c, and prevent their edges fromlapping. To prevent the quadrants from being thrown too far open, theyare so constructed as to permit their upper edges to come in contactwith the base of the crank-arms D or the shafts C. Instead of thepulley-wheels E, levers may be secured at right angles to the shafts C,having grooved ares at their outer ends to receive the chains.

From the foregoing description of the Yconstruction and operati on oi'my dredging-bucket, itis apparent that it is not only exceedingly strongand simple in construction, but it pos sesses the additional advantagesof occupying less room, by reason of its compactness, than is requiredfor dredging-buckets as usually constructed, and of obviating thenecessity of using fine chains, and other nc and closelyfitting parts,which the friction, water, and grit rapidly cut out and renderinoperative, compelling frequent and expensive repairs. Besides, abucket constructed as hereinbefore described can be made to open andshut with great promptness.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by' Letters Patent, is-

1. In a dredging-bucket, stop-blocks secured to the lower part of thesustaining frame-work, against which abut corresponding stops when thequadrants of the bucket are closed.

2. In a dredging-bucket, a combination of two quadrants with two shaftshaving crankarms and pulleys thereon, in connection With links,substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

JOHN B. WOOD.

Witnesses:

H. L. `WATTENBERG, G. M. PLYMP'roN.

